Tuesday, August 28, 2007

--After missing four games due to injury and splitting time last year, South Iredell running back Anthony Thwaites still nearly gained 1,000 yards. This year, he’s nearly halfway there. After two games, Thwaites has 430 yards in leading the Vikings to a 2-0 start.

This Friday, he gets to prove himself against one of the best in the area, West Iredell running back Bobby Morrison, who ran for 274 yards in West Iredell’s only game of the season.

--Looking for some solid all-around players? Hopewell’s Stephen Rust rushed for a touchdown, threw for a touchdown, made nine tackles and punted for a 34-yard average against Waddell on Friday. North Lincoln’s Eddie Guzman ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass and returned a punt for a touchdown against Bunker Hill last week. Not a bad night’s work.

--Most likely to recover from opening week loss: East Lincoln. New quarterback Josh Wilson struggled against Newton-Conover, but found his way in a 34-7 romp of Catawba Bandys. He also has a lot of weapons and a solid offensive coach in Mike Byus.

--Least likely to recover: Bandys. Who would have thought any Bandys team would start 0-2, scoring seven points in the process? If running back LeQuan McCorkle doesn’t recovery from injury very soon, it will only get worse.

--North Meck will do better in ME-CA 6 4A play than many expected after the loss of virtually the entire offense and defense. The Vikings won’t win the conference as last year, but they’ll put up a fight. One request – please start passing the ball a couple more times a game before sophomore running back Xavier Joplin starts walking like a retired NFL offensive lineman.

--East Lincoln plays the Eagles of Kennedy Charter this week. Who? A Google search found that Kennedy Charter will play a four-game schedule this year. That should be an interesting final score.

2
comments:

Anonymous
said...

Dan;I really enjoyed your column about football in the North. As it looks like you are the person covering that part of the stae, I want to comment to you on several items of importance. I am writing to you with some observations of the Lake Norman-SI game. It was the most poorly officiated game I have seen in 35 years and please have someone review the tapes.

One lone official threw the game in favor of SI and the blatant missed calls on holding and clipping will be seen by anyone who watches. Other observations:

1. The game was stolen! 2. Thwaites put on a running show and I admire the young man as an exceptional athlete.3. The passing game of LN was going great through the first quarter and then they did not throw again until the 4th quarter after the running game failed miserably, why?4. Tyler McCrorie was speared in a criminal act after calling for a fair catch in the 4th quarter. Is this from the coach or a player?

Even if you do not agree with the officiating opinion I have, it is warranted to review. LNHS has some talent this year if not a strategy. I look forward to seeing them again. Keep up your efforts to cover something other than latin and Independence. It is sickening to see the emphasis on a semi-pro high school instead of a pure effort from normal schools. If Zach Connell ever had the receivers and line that they do, I am sure that he would lead the state.

I was at that game too, and it was called pretty fairly. Maybe, that is why South at 12 penalties for 100 yards so forgive me if I am wrong but a game called in favor of South would not rack up that many penalties. I saw alot of unsportsmanship from Lake Norman after the losing began so someone needs to teach players how to keep composure when it is not going their way.